A Whiff Of Lavender May Reduce Anxiety

June 20, 1999|CHICAGO TRIBUNE

There's nothing pale about lavender's therapeutic powers. This shrub grows spikes of small white, blue or purple flowers that are specially treated to extract what's known by aromatherapists as its essential oil. The aromatic oil is popular in Europe as a sleep aid (often used in scented pillows). It has also been employed by aromatherapists for reducing anxiety, depression, fatigue and delayed menstruation. German health practitioners recommend lavender plant oil as a bath additive to treat circulation disorders, and it has been suggested as an insect repellent (and to keep moths out of the closet). A new University of Alaska-Fairbanks pilot study of 20 men, co-authored by nurse researcher Anita Bush, adds an American perspective.

Following a brisk walking workout, male subjects were placed in a dimly lighted room to relax in a comfortable chair with their legs elevated. An experimental group inhaled lavender oil, while the control group merely lounged. The men receiving the aromatherapy showed faster recovery from exercise, including lower heart rate and blood pressure readings.

Bush said the results show the potential for application to anyone's athletic program or simply recovering from a stressful day.